Danny Baker claims BBC London radio show to be axed as part of cuts

Danny Baker has claimed his hit radio show on BBC London is to be axed as part of the corporation’s announced cuts.

Danny Baker claims his radio show has been axed as part of BBC cuts (Picture: BBC)

Yesterday BBC director-general Mark Thompson announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs as part of its Delivering Quality First strategy, which will cut £700million of spending from the corporation’s £3.5 billion budget.

The BBC had to make savings of billions of pounds after the annual television licence fee was frozen at £145.50 for six years.

While prime-time programming will be protected, BBC Two’s daytime programming is to be scrapped in favour of repeats of ‘outstanding’ shows while BBC3 and BBC4 will change focus to play more of a supporting role to the main channels.The broadcaster’s radio output will also be affected – and popular DJ Danny Baker claims his BBC London radio show is one of the first victims of the cull.

He wrote on his Twitter account this morning: ‘So the BBC London afternoon show – current Sony Gold Holder – is to be part of the Delivering Quality First cuts. The logic of Genius.

‘Nothing like having your show axed under an initiative called Delivering Quality First to let you know how valued you are. #CrapOutFirst

‘Just off up the end of the garden with 3 Sony Gold awards (one current, one not even mine) and a stick of dynamite. #DeliveringDynamiteFirst’

In reference to the high-cost of some adverts made by the BBC, he posted a link to a promo for Zane Lowe’s radio show and wrote: ‘The BBC cuts are essential & I am happy to fall on their sword. I mean, how else are they to fund ads like this?’

The announcement was met by widespread outrage from fans, with numerous petitions springing up calling on the BBC to save his popular radio show.

Absolute Radio host Christian O’Connell was one of the first people to pledge his support for Baker, as the DJ’s name rapidly became a top trending topic on Twitter.

But confusion reigned as to whether his show had actually been axed after all when his agent appeared to laugh off the claims.

Alex Armitage seemed to suggest the tweets were designed to spark a reaction, telling the Huffington Post UK: ‘Who knows what the future holds. I think you might have been taken in by it.’

The BBC denied his show had been axed, saying that nothing had been decided yet.

A BBC spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘As part of the proposed changes to BBC Local Radio under Delivering Quality First, it is proposed that BBC London will share a weekday afternoon programme with neighbouring stations.

‘Which programme, and who presents that programme has yet to be decided. We certainly haven’t said that any specific show will be axed, including the one presented by Danny Baker.’